Thursday, April 9, 2015

THROWBACK THURSDAY: SHEILA E.

Without a doubt one of the most talented people in the music business and definitely Prince's most accomplished and respected protégé, Sheila Escovedo, known the us as Sheila E., forged her own unique place in pop music over the last few decades. The daughter of renowned percussionist Pete Escovedo, Sheila played along side her father growing up and eventually played professionally for the likes of George Duke, Lionel Richie, Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. Of course, her life completely changed when Prince met her in 1978 when she was playing a gig with her father and prophesied that she would one day join his band. Sheila was eventually asked to join Prince in the studio during the Purple Rain sessions to record backing vocals for B-side classic Erotic City, and the rest is history. Prince produced her debut album, Sheila E. in The Glamorous Life, with it's massive title track and top 40 hit The Belle of St. Mark. Sheila opened for his Purple Rain tour to promote the album, and even had a brief affair with The Purple One. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards for her debut. Her second album, also written and produced with Prince, Romance 1600, yielded another hit with the Prince duet A Love Bizarre (#11). Her third and last album of the 80s, Sheila E., was a step in a new direction with a more Latin flavored and had a sound very similar to Prince's Lovesexy album. Though she failed to garner a major chart hit from the set, aside from Hold Me hitting #3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, Sheila E., the album, was well received by critics and fans alike. Sheila continued to record music and began acting in films such as Krush Groove, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and Prince's concert film Sign 'O' The Times. Sheila eventually joined Prince's new band, The New Power Generation, and recorded during his Sign 'O' The Times, Lovesexy and The Black Album period, coming back to tour with him every few years thereafter. She went on to record a few more albums in the 90s and play with artist like Phil Collins, Cyndi Lauper and even Beyoncé. Her last solo album, Icon, was released in 2013. She remains a renowned percussionist and sought after performer. Here are just a few of Sheila E.'s greatest for you to enjoy. Notice the man-on-man love in the last video, 1991's Sex Cymbal. Sheila loves the gays!! Be glamorous.